Arizona Cardinal Of The Week: Week Eight

While the Cardinals had a disappointing loss on Sunday, a few people on the team tried their hardest to get the win.


Gerald Hayes - 5 Tackles, 1 for a loss, Fumble return for a Touchdown

In his first week back after having back surgery, Hayes made arguably the biggest play of the game for the Cardinals. Shortly after a 30 yard Touchdown run by Stephens-Howling he returned a fumble that was forced by Paris Lenon 21 yards for a Touchdown to make the score 31-28 in favor of the Buccaneers when the score was 31-14 minutes earlier. That one play brought the crowd to life, and it got the crowd thinking that there was a chance to win the game.

Steve Breaston - 8 Catches for 147 yards on 11 targets, 1 Carry for 14 yards

Also in his first game back after having meniscus surgery, Breaston had his second 100 yard game of the season, and set a career high in receiving yards. The big plays downfield in the Cardinals offense used to belong to Larry Fitzgerald, but it seems like Derek Anderson has developed a good relationship with Breaston, and he had 3 catches that went for more than 30 yards on Sunday. When Anquan Boldin was traded, part of the reasoning was that the coaches had faith in Breaston after he stepped in for Boldin while he was injured over the last two seasons, and he isn't disappointing this year.

LaRod Stephens-Howling - 4 Carries for 41 yards, Touchdown

This is the second week in a row that he has made this list, the guy just seems to make a big play either on special teams or with the offense every week now. This week, he recovered a muffed punt that led to a Touchdown run by Beanie Wells, and what was at the time a 14-7 lead. He also had a 30 yard Touchdown shortly before Gerald Hayes' Fumble return for a Touchdown.

Kerry Rhodes - 10 Tackles, Blocked 53 yard Field Goal

He is only really here for one play, but it was a big one. Following an Interception by Derek Anderson inside of Cardinal territory, Will Davis sacked Josh Freeman on a play where he ran back 14 yards and took the Bucs out of Field Goal range. They still decided to go for a 53 yard kick, but it was blocked by Kerry Rhodes (one of his many big plays this year), and it gave the Cardinals the ball around midfield with 3 minutes left in the game and a chance to kick the game tying Field Goal or score a Touchdown. But we all know what happened after that, 1 minute later Derek Anderson threw an Interception into triple coverage on 1st down at the Tampa Bay 20 yard line. Game over.

Is there anyone of these four players who you think was the Cardinal of the week? Or is there someone who is more deserving that I didn't mention? Discuss it in the comments.